Liverpool manager Arne Slot faces an uncertain future after Mohamed Salah, 33, confirmed he will leave the club this summer while issuing a scathing critique of the team’s current direction. Following a 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa on 15 May—Liverpool’s 20th loss in all competitions this term—the odds on Slot becoming the next Premier League manager sacked have shortened to 2/1. With one game remaining against Brentford, Liverpool sit fifth in the table, facing the prospect of missing out on Champions League football despite a total summer spend exceeding £400 million on players including Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.
Gerrard labels Salah comments damning for Slot
The fallout from the Villa Park defeat intensified after Salah released a social media statement criticizing the squad’s "crumbling" form and a perceived loss of the "heavy metal" identity established under Jurgen Klopp. Speaking on TNT Sports during FA Cup final coverage, former captain Steven Gerrard described the timing of the statement as "unusual" and "damning" for Slot’s authority. Gerrard suggested the public nature of the critique signals a deeper breakdown in the dressing room environment. Under Slot, the club has struggled to integrate high-profile arrivals like Hugo Ekitike and Isak, both of whom have missed significant periods through injury, contributing to a massive regression from the 2024/25 title-winning campaign.
Squad friction and tactical concerns at Anfield
Slot’s position is further complicated by his reported friction with Salah, who previously claimed in December 2025 that he felt "thrown under the bus" by the manager's tactical adjustments. Despite the £440m recruitment drive that saw core figures Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez depart, the side has lacked defensive stability, exacerbated by long-term injuries to Alisson Becker. According to reports in the Mirror, FSG is now weighing Slot’s future against a shrinking pool of replacements; long-term target Xabi Alonso is widely reported by various outlets to be nearing a deal with Chelsea. While Slot told Planet Football he has "every reason to believe" he will remain in charge, the combination of Salah’s exit and a potential fifth-place finish has left the board with a critical decision regarding a squad in transition.
Liverpool conclude their Premier League season against Brentford on 24 May, where anything less than a victory will likely seal Slot's fate before the transfer window opens.